Chamaecyparis plant named ‘Dow Whiting’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Chamaecyparis  plant named ‘Dow Whiting’, characterized by its compact and pyramidal plant form; leaves with rich green-colored upper surfaces and silvery blue-colored lower surfaces; and winter hardiness.

Botanical designation: Chamaecyparis pisifera.

Cultivar denomination: ‘Dow Whiting’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present Invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Chamaecyparis plant, botanically known as Chamaecyparis pisifera, and hereinafter referred to by the name ‘Dow Whiting’.

The new Chamaecyparis plant is a naturally-occurring branch mutation of Chamaecyparis pisifera ‘Boulevard’, not patented. The new Chamaecyparis plant was discovered and selected by the Inventor on a single plant of ‘Boulevard’ within a population of plants of ‘Boulevard’ in a controlled outdoor nursery environment in Highlandville, Mo. in May, 2000.

Asexual reproduction of the new Chamaecyparis plant by hardwood cuttings in a controlled greenhouse environment in Highlandville, Mo. since November, 2000, has shown that the unique features of this new Chamaecyparis plant are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Chamaecyparis have not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environment and culture such as temperature and light intensity without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of the new Chamaecyparis plant. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘Dow Whiting’ as a new and distinct cultivar of Chamaecyparis:

-   -   1. Compact and pyramidal plant form.     -   2. Leaves with rich green-colored upper surfaces and silvery         blue-colored lower surfaces.     -   3. Winter hardy.

Plants of the new Chamaecyparis are most similar to plants of the parent, ‘Boulevard’. Plants of the new Chamaecyparis differ from plants of ‘Boulevard’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Chamaecyparis are broader than and not as         narrow as ‘Boulevard’.     -   2. Upper surfaces of leaves of plants of the new Chamaecyparis         are rich green in color whereas upper surfaces of leaves of         plants of ‘Boulevard’ are silvery blue in color.

Plants of the new Chamaecyparis can also be compared to plants of Chamaecyparis pisifera ‘Mr. Green Genes’, not patented. Plants of the new Chamaecyparis differ from plants of ‘Mr. Green Genes’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Chamaecyparis are more compact than and not         as vigorous as plants of ‘Mr. Green Genes’.     -   2. Plants of the new Chamaecyparis are more uniform in shape         than plants of ‘Mr. Green Genes’.     -   3. Plants of the new Chamaecyparis and ‘Mr. Green Genes’ differ         in leaf color as plants of ‘Mr. Green Genes’ have lighter         green-colored leaves.     -   4. Leaves of plants of the new Chamaecyparis are green in color         throughout the year whereas leaves of plants of ‘Mr. Green         Genes’ tend to turn brown during the winter.

Plants of the new Chamaecyparis can also be compared to plants of Chamaecyparis pisifera ‘Cream Ball’, not patented. Plants of the new Chamaecyparis differ from plants of ‘Cream Ball’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Chamaecyparis are more compact than plants         of ‘Cream Ball’.     -   2. Plants of the new Chamaecyparis are more uniform in shape         than plants of ‘Cream Ball’.     -   3. Plants of the new Chamaecyparis and ‘Cream Ball’ differ in         lower surface leaf color as plants of ‘Cream Ball’ have creamy         white-colored lower leaf surfaces.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearance of the new Chamaecyparis plant, showing the colors as true as it is reasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in the photographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors of the new Chamaecyparis plant.

The photograph at the bottom of the sheet is a side perspective view of a typical plant of ‘Dow Whiting’ grown in an outdoor nursery.

The photograph at the top of the sheet is a close-up view of the foliage of a typical plant of ‘Dow Whiting’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

Plants used for the aforementioned photographs and following observations and measurements were grown in Grand Haven, Mich. during the summer in an outdoor nursery and under conditions which approximate commercial Chamaecyparis production. Plants had been growing for three years when the photographs and description were taken. In the following description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 1995 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Chamaecyparis pisifera ‘Dow Whiting’. -   Parentage: Naturally-occurring branch mutation of Chamaecyparis     pisifera ‘Boulevard’, not patented. -   Propagation:     -   -   Type.—By hardwood cuttings.         -   Time to initiate roots.—About 40 days at 20° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted young plant.—About 120 days at 20°             C.         -   Root description.—Thick.         -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching; dense. -   Plant description:     -   -   Form/growth habit.—Compact evergreen shrub, pyramidal plant             form; moderately vigorous growth habit.         -   Branching habit.—Freely branching with numerous lateral             branches developing per plant. Branches mostly horizontal to             slightly arching. Plants maintain their lower branches and             foliage at the soil level.         -   Plant height.—About 1.25 meters.         -   Plant diameter.—About 60 cm.         -   Trunk texture.—Rough.         -   Lateral branch description.—Length: About 18 cm. Diameter:             About 3.5 mm. Texture: Smooth, scaly. Strength: Strong.             Color, developing: Close to 145A. Color, mature: Close to             177B.         -   Leaf description.—Appearance/arrangement: Scale-like, flat;             opposite; sessile. Length: About 1 mm. Width: About 0.75 mm.             Shape: Scale-like. Apex: Acute. Base: Cuneate. Margin:             Entire. Texture, upper and lower surface: Smooth, glabrous.             Venation pattern: Parallel. Color: Developing leaves, upper             and lower surfaces: Close to 144A. Fully expanded leaves,             upper surface: Close to 141A; venation, close to 141A. Fully             expanded leaves, lower surface: Close to 141B overlain with             close to 190D giving a silvery blue color; venation, close             to 141 B overlain with close to 190D.         -   Cone description.—Cone development has not been observed. -   Disease/pest resistance: Plants of the new Chamaecyparis have not     been noted to be resistant to pathogens or pests common to     Chamaecyparis. -   Weather tolerance: Plants of the new Chamaecyparis have been     observed to be tolerant to drought, rain, wind and temperatures     ranging from about −20° C. to about 30° C. 

1. A new and distinct Chamaecyparis plant named ‘Dow Whiting’ as illustrated and described. 